Gravity feed fuel control means for wick type burners



Oct. 2, 1951 Filed Jan. 15. 1947 a 2 w p M M Q d 4 9 i g m a w, 2 a J a a l? 1951 A. NELSON 2,559,944

GRAVITY FEED FUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR wIcK TYPE BURNERS Filed Jan. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flilel'ti Nglfion BY Oct. 2, 1951 A. NELSON GRAVITY FEED FUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR WICK TYPE BURNERS 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed Jan. 15, 1947 INVENTOR. zfiverd N65 5012/, BY

Oct. 2, 1951 A. NELSON 4 GRAVITY FEED FUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR WICK TYPE BQRNERS Filed Jan. 15, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 97 -90 INVENTOR.

Yo i/8rd Nelson, B

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 RAVITY rE nFUEL CONTROL MEANS FOR wrcK TYPE BURNERS Averd N J OI -Wiscnsin Rapids, Wis., assignor to Prentiss Wabers Products 00.,

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis a corporation of Wisconsin -Application January 15, 1947, Serial N 0. 722,116

7 Claims.

' The present inveation'relatcs to improvements in controls forburners.

More particularly. the'present invention relates to improvementsforpcontrollingthe flow, of liquid fuel-to ahurncr, example of which is a kerosene burner.

:An \obiect or present invention is to provide ianzimproved control which may be applied to a wick holdenandbumer of conventional :design and which will have improved simplification over prior devices.

:A'ifurther object Elsto provide a control for a burner which avoids difliculties which have previously been encountered in: theordinary need'le valve control..

A further .obiect isto provide an improved control for a liquidit-uelsbl'n'ner which avoids difficulties heretcforccncOilhfiBRdtdueto leaks in the fuel line.

A "further, object is-to provide-an improved con trolifor-ia liquidrmel hnmcr which will result in even-burning at low Afurther object isto provide a control for a burner which is notjlilselyto weareand which requires only maintenan e to k ep it in operating Afurther vobzieetwis to provide econtrol for a liquid fuel burner wh ch simpl urdy in construction and-notlikelyto get out of order.

':A turtheriobject-is to provide ell-control which is'efliciefnt and A further object is providers control for a liquid fuel burnersvhich ischeap to m nufacture and efficient in -operation.

A further object-ism provides control tor an oil burner well adapted ton eet the needs of ordinary service.

Further objects will appear as he de cripti n proc ds.

Referring to thedrew n s,

Figure 1 is Jar-view in side elevation illustrating oneembodiment orthe present inv ntion;

Figure 2 is an end view of the construction illustrated in Figure L'Eigure 2 bein taken in th dir c on otth a r ws 22. in Fi ur 1 gEi ur s '3 and! ill s te d tails of construction of the device illustrated in the preceding figures;

Figure?) isa top plan view of a modified construct n;

Figurefi a side viewpf the construction illustrated' in'FigureyfifiFigurefi being taken in the direct on '.8 W- "i' o u Figured is a'trasmsnt r V ew illustrating an nd v w oil'theco structioushown iu .r eure 6,.

Figure '7 being taken in the direction of the arrows 1 '1 in Figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates a detail of construction;

Figures 9 and 10 are views in side elevation and top plan, respectively, illustrating another modification; and

Figures 11, 12 and 13 are views in top plan, end elevation and side elevation, respectively, of a construction embodying a gang ofburn'ers with control means therefor embodying the principles of the present invention.

Referring first to the embodiment of the 'invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and l, the numeral l0 indicates a framework for supporting a burner and the control therefor. The burner is indicated by the numeral II and may consist of a wick holder I 2 and a flame distributor [2a which maybe of conventional design. Said wick h lder I2 is mounted upon and c mmunicates with the interior of atube or stringer 13, being welded thereto, for example, as indicated by the numerals l.4-l,4.

Said tube or stringer I3 is adapted to have a swinging movement in a vertical plane, i. e. in the plane of the paper as the parts are illustrated in Figure 1. To allow this swinging movement while connected to a stationary fuel supply, the stringer I 3 is connected to a bellows 15, the other extremity of which is secured to a fitting l6, threaded into an opening in the transversely extending fuel supply pipe 1. Secured to the pipe or stringer 13, adjacent to the bellows I5, is a bracket I8. Said bracket includes a split sleeve portion I19 encircling the tube or stringer 13 which sleeve portion has upstanding flanges 20-23, having apertures provided with a bolt 21 and a nut 22 whereby the sleeve portion l9 may be secured in tight gripping relationship with the tube or stringer I3. Said bracket 11B is provided with the flaring arms 2323 engaging brackets 24-24 secured to the supply pipe I1. Said brackets may be united by means of struts, one of which is indicated by the numeral 24a. The axis of swing of the tube or stringer [3, with respect to the brackets 24;-24, is indicated by the center line 25 which is disposed in intersecting relationship with the bellows 15 or adjacent thereto.

The supply pipe 11 and fitting I6 are rigidly carried by the frame [0. The supply pipe I! supports a sump 26 which may be supplied by the fuel tank 2'1. The sump 26 and fuel tank 21 may be of the well known barometric control type hereby a predetermined liquid leve indicated by the reference character 2811., will be maintained in the sump 26.

The tilting or swinging of the tube or stringer I3 with its burner II about the axis is controlled by a handle 28 located at the extremity of a shaft 29 having an offset crank portion 30 adapted to operate in a slot 3I in a bracket 32 fast with the tube or stringer I3. Said handle 28 has a portion 33 hereof bent in right angular relationship with the shaft 29. A spring 34 is disposed in encircling relationship with the shaft 29 and engages a cotter pin 34a or the like. Said spring urges the portion 33 of the handle 28 into engagement with an embossed portion 35 fast with frame Ill. Said embossed portion 35 is provided with a plurality of spaced indentations 3536 whereby, due to the bias of the spring 34, the

handle 28 may be held releaseably in any one of a plurality of spaced positions.

Swinging of the handle 28 through an arc .will communicate a lifting or lowering movement to the bracket 32, swinging the tube or stringer I3 about the axis 25. By reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that when said tube or stringer is in its uppermost position, the wick holder I2 will be located above the fuel level 26a in the sump 26 so that said wick holder will not be supplied with fuel. As the handle 28 is swun in the direction to lower the adjacent extremity of the tube or stringer [3, the wick holder will be lowered to and below the liquid fuel level 26a, the maximum depth of fuel being had when the stringer I3 is in its lowermost position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

Communication between the interior of the tube or stringer I3 and the burner II is had through the aperture 31 located at the bottom of said burner. It is important that this aperture be located at the high side of the burner II considering conditions when said burner is in its off position (its uppermost position). In other language, the aperture 31 is located at that portion of the burner II distant from the axis of swing on the tube or stringer I3 and disposed symmetrically with the plane of swing of said burner. According to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, only one aperture 31 is provided. If apertures providing communication between the tube or stringer I3 and the burner II were provided on the low side of said burner (considering conditions when said burner is in its uppermost side of the wick. According to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the burner will function evenly at low flame for the reason that the liquid fuel, inasmuch as it must pass through the aperture 31 on the high side of the burner (when the burner is adjacent to its uppermost position) will saturate the wick in the burner and will continue to pass around to the low side of the burner wick, makingpossible a more even saturation of the wick at periods of low fire as well as at other periods of fire;

Two pins 36a--38a'extending from the embossed portion 35 definitely limit swinging movement of the handle 28, which swinging movement will approximate 180 degrees. Said pins 36a-35a will definitely limit the extent to which the bellows I5 may be bent. As an added safet feature to protect the bellows, the bracket 2424 and the flaring arms 2323 of the bracket I8 have cooperating portions to limit the swingin of the tube or stringer I3. This construction is mile-- 4 trated in Figure 4 from which it will be noted that the bracket 24 is provided with the upper and lower flanges 38-38 which co-operate with a squared portion 39 of the swinging bracket I8 to limit swinging movement of said bracket I 8, thereby protecting the bellows I5 against excessive bending. 'In iother words, the 'icomers of the squared portion 33 of the swinging bracket I 8 engage alternatively the upper and lower flanges 38-38 of the stationary bracket 24, and therefore limit the swinging movement of the bracket I8 and of the tube or stringer I3. As a manufacturing detail, the brackets 24-24 may profitably be made in one piece, being connected by struts 24a-24a as above described and illustrated, so that the distance between said brackets will be accurately determined as, for example, by swedging in a die, resulting in a relatively cheap and. accurate construction.

As a further safety feature, the floor 40 of the frame I!) is located in a position tosupport-bracket 32 when said bracket is in'itslowermost position; that is in the position in which the burner. II is located for high flame; Therefore inthe event of failure of the handle construction 28 with its associated spring 34, the burner II wouldbe prevented from moving below apredetermined high flame position both by the co-operation of the portion 39 of the bracket I8 with the flanges 38 of the brackets 34 but also by contact 'of the bracket 32 with the floor 48. =7 f 1 Referring now to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figures 5, 6; '7' and 8, a; construction is illustrated in which the sump 4I,

carrying a fuel tank 42, is swingingly supported.

on a pair of brackets, one of which is illustrated in Figure '6 and indicated by the numeral 42a; Said brackets 42a42a are-rigidly mounted upon the frame 43. Rigidly secured to the sump 4I'is the '1, tube or stringer 44, said tubeor stringerhaving an aperture 45 for communication with the interior of said sump. As illustrated in Figurefi, the aperture 45 in the tube or stringer 44 has communication with the nipple 46 which nipple is united with the tube or stringer 44 by welding or the like. The outer wall of the name 48 is provided with a groove forthe reception of a collar 41, the wall of which is of U -shaped cross section. Thelower portion of the sump 4| is provided with a depressed portion 48, the lower extremity of which is provided with an apertured flange 48a fitting within the collar 41. Said parts may beassembled and swedged "together in a manner which will be obvious without detailed explanation whereby to provide a tightjoint between the sump 4| and the tube or stringer-44.

A burner 49 is connected to the tube or stringer 44 adjacent to the right-hand extremity of said tube or stringer as the parts are viewed inv Figures 5 and 6. Said tube or stringer 44 and burner 49 are adapted to be raised andlowered with a swinging movement about the axis 58 which is.

the axis of swing of the sump M and tank 42 in the brackets 42'a-42a. The raising and'lowering of the burner 49 is controlled by the handle 5! connected to. the shank 52, provided with the offset crank portion 53. Said crank portion 53 is positioned within a slot 54 in a bracket 55 secured to the tube or stringer 44 adjacent to the swinging extremity thereof. Said. bracket 55,. as illustrated in Figure 7, encircles the tube or stringer 44 at least partially and issecured thereto by welding, brazing or the like. Shaft 52 is to the frame 43 of the stove or the like of which notches 6.l6l formed .;in the-'embossed portion til-a or the bracket '51, fast "with the frame Communication between ithe interior of the tube or stringer 44 and the "burner is'had through the aperture 82, which, as explained above in connection with the aperture 33 (Figure I) should be located at the high side or its corresponding burner, considering conditions when said burner :is in its uppermost position. That is, the aperture 61! is located at that' portion 'o'f the burner- 19 distant from the axis of :swing of tube or stringer 44 and is positioned symmetrically with the plane of swing oi-sai'd burner.

The frame -43 ofthe stove is provided with-the upstanding wall 53 WhlCh WaI1 is recessed'to reiceive the tube or stringer 44 whereby to limit the downward movement of the burner'49.

The mode of operation of the embo'dlmentof the present invention illustrated inFiguresS to 8-incl-usive will be clear from the descrip'tiono'f the embodiment of theiinvention illustrated Fi ures 1 to 4. Accordingto Figures 5 to 8, the handle 5| may be swun through an arc-approximating 180 degrees. Atoneextreme position'oi said handle the burner 49 will he in its upper most position in which any-liquid fuel in thebottom of said burner will drain back through the tube or stringer 44 toward the sump--41. -At'the other extreme position of the handle 5 "the burn er 49 will be in its lowermostposi tlon wherein liquid fuel will flow by gravity from thesurnp l' l "through the tube or stringer 44 to the bottom'oi the burner 49 providing maximum flame. ,The intermediate flames may be had by choosmg intermediate positions of the hand-1e "5i. "In-the event of failure of the spring 59, downward movement of the burner 49 will "be 'limited'by reason of engagement of the tube or stringer with the bottom of the recess inthe waI1 63.

Referringnow to the embodiment of the i-n- 'vention illustrated in Figures'9 and 1 0, a-relatively stationary sump is provided having mount- =ed thereonthe tank -65. Communicating with the bottom of the sum-p 64 is the pipe *65 which has connected thereto a packing gland 61 which takes the form of an elbow, one arm of which, "indicated by thenumeral 58, communicates with the interior of the pipeb'o. The other arm or said packing gland, indicated by the numeral 69, provides means for rotatably receiving the end portion 18 of the pipe or stringer?! which leads to a burner '12. The pipe or stringer H is turned at right angles intermediate or its length as clearlyillustrated in Figure whereby the end portion H! thereof may lie in parallel-relationship with the pipe 66 while the other end portion; Hm of said pipe or stringer is being swun vertica ly ina plane at right angles to the pipe 6'6. "The aperture 10b, providingcommunication between the pipe or stringer 10a and the burner 12 ,*is located on the high sideof said burner-"considering conditions when said burner in itsuppermos-t position. That is, said aperture is "located at that portion of the burner distant from "the 'ax-is of swing thereof and is --disposedsymmetrieally with the plane of swing burner :or :said burner.

It will not" be necessary: to describe thepackinjg :gl-and 61 in detailfitbeing suilic'ient to state that said packing gland receives the'end portion 113 of the pipe or'str-inger i l, packing material in- :dicated by the numeral 13 being odisposedexterilorly of said end portion 10 and :interiorly of the arm $3 ofthepackinggland fi. A bushing ll may be provided' for engaging and compressing the packing .material 13, said bushing '14 being engaged by the cap member Hi which is threed I'interiorly to engage the threaded extremity oi thearm' fifi.

lt will be :understood without further explana- "tion thatthepacking gland '61 will provide a liquid tight fiiexible connection between the pipe 56 and "the pipe or stringer?! while permitting said :pipe :or-stringer 'l l to have a swinging movement about an axis parallel with the axis of the-pip'gfii.

The sump fl and the tank 65 will-have baro- -m'etric'contr'ol meanssimilar to the correspond ing instrumentali ties illustrated and described in connection with the'preceding figures, said control means maintaininga predetermined oil level thesump-M which oil level is indicatedby thenumeral 15min Figure 9.

Similarly to the embodiments of the invention illustrated inthe preceding figures, theraising and lowerin of the burner 12 will control the feeding of oil from the sump B4 to said burner. 'When said burner is in its lowermost position-as indicated in full lines in Figure '9, said burner will be positionedfor high flame. When said burner is raised to its uppermost position as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 9, thewick portion of said burner will be raised above the liquid level 15a, stopping the feeding of oil. Any intermediate position between the uppermost-and lowermost positions of the burner may be chosen and maintained by any preferred adjusting means.

"Figures 11, Hand 13 illustratea construction in which a gang of burners may be controlled according to the present invention with one move- -ment 'of the adjusting means.

Referring to the structure illustrated in Figures '11, 12 and 13, 34 tan-k "is provided fixedly-mounted upon a bracket 11 fast with the frame, not illustrated, of the stove. 'Pivotly connecte'dto said bracket I1 is a sump assembly indicatedas a whole by the numeral I8. As illustrated said sumpxassembly is made up of three sumps '79; and 8| fixed relative to each other but swing able as awhole about the axis 82. The'tank I5 isprovided with three nipples 83'83, each of which projects'down into its own individual sump. Each of'said' nipples is provided with a valve 84 by means of'whicha predetermined-oil level may be maintained in each of the sum-ps 19, BB-and 8|. Each'of'said sumps 19, 8!] and BI communicates with-a pipe or stringer '85, each "leading to its individual burner 86. The elevation of the burners 86-8E-may be controlled by the. rotatable shaft-81 carried b the brackets-8888 and'by the embossed member being fixed relativeto the stove. Said shaft 81 is provided with a plurality "of "crank portions, which need not be illustratedor described "in detail, .co-operating with slots 90'90 in the brackets B I'9| fixed rela tive to the swinging extremities of the pipes or stringers B5l5.

The'shaft 81 maybe provided with a cotter pin 92 and between'tsaid cotter pin 92 and the embossed member US-a spring maybe disposed in 'level in the remainder of the sumps.

encircling relationship with the adjacent portion of the shaft 89 whereby said shaft Blpwill be urged toward the left as the parts are viewed in Figure 11. The right hand extremity of the shaft ll as the parts are viewed in Figure 11 is provided with the handle 93 having an end portion 94 turned into right angular relationship with the axis of the shaft 81. The'embossed member 89 is provided with an arcuate rib 95 having a plurality of indentations 9696 for receiving the end portion 94 of the handle 93. The aperture 91, providing communication between each pipe or stringer 85 and its corresponding burner 86 is located at the high side of said burner, considering conditions when said burner is in its uppermost position. That is, said aperture is located at a region of said burner spaced from the axis of swing of said burner and symmetrically disposed with respect to the plane of swing of said burner.

It will be clear that the gang of burners 86-86 may be moved to and held at a plurality of selectable positions with respect to the oil level in the sumps I9, Bll and BI. It is a matter of choice whether the oil level in each of the sumps 19, 80 and III will be the same or whether the oil level in one or more of said sumps may vary from the In other words, it is a matter'of choice whether the operator in raising and lowering the gang of burners 86-436 will control the flowing of oil equally to all three burners or whetherthe parts will be so designed that the flow of oil to one or more of the burners will vary from the flow of oil to the remainder of the burners.

The present invention has the advantage that the parts may be made of substantial construction at a relatively low cost. It presents very little likelihood of getting out of order. The control operates efiiciently and evenly at low fire as well as at higher fires. The present invention has the further advantage that it makes possible an efficient liquid fuel burner of minimum overall height, a construction which is very important in the kerosene stove field.

Though certain preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail,

' many modifications will occur to those, skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims. r

What is claimed is: r I

1. In combination, a relatively stationary supply vessel, means for maintaining" a predetermined liquid level' within said vessel, a tube, flexible connecting means connecting said tube to said supply vessel, a burner communicating with said tube and means for tilting said tube and said burner as a unit about an axis extending through said connecting means with a movement in a vertical plane to change the relative eleva tions of said burner and said liquid level in said supply vessel whereby liquid will'flow from said burner toward said supply vessel or will flow from said supply vessel toward said burner through said tube in response to changes in said relative elevations, the only communication between said burner and said tube being at the bottom of said burner on the high side of said burner when said burner is in its elevated position and being located symmetrically with said plane.

2. In combination, a relatively stationary supply vessel, means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level within said vessel, a tube, flexible connecting means connectingsaid tube vto *said supply vessel,'a burner communicating with said tube and means for tilting said tube and said burner as a unit about an axis extending through said connecting means with amovement in a vertical plane to change the relative elevations of said'burner and said liquid level in said supply vessel whereby liquid will flow from said burner toward said supply vessel or will flow from said supply vessel toward said burner through said tube in response to changes in said relative elevations, the only communication between said burner and said tube being at the bottom of said burner on the high side of said burner when said burner is in its elevated position and being located symmetrically with said plane, and means for releasably holding said elevation changing means in a plurality of positions intermediate of the range of positions of said supply vessel and said burner.

3. In combination, a relatively stationary supply vessel for liquid fuel, means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in said vessel, a burner and tube means connecting said burner with said vessel, means for tilting said tube means and said burner as a unit with a movement in a vertical plane between positions wherein, fuel will flow from said vessel toward the bottom of said burner and wherein'fuel will flow from the bottom of said burner toward said vessel and flexible connecting means connecting said tube and said vessel whereby said tube may be tilted without moving said vessel, the only communication between said burner and said tube being at the bottom of said burner on the high side of said burner when said burner is in its elevated position and being located symmetrically with said plane.

4. In combination, a relatively stationary supply vessel for liquid fuel, means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in. said vessel, a burner and tube means connecting said burner with said vessel, means for tilting said tube means and said burner as a unit with a movement in a vertical plane between positions wherein fuel will flow from said vessel toward the bottom of saidburner and wherein fuel will flow from the bottom of said burner toward said vessel and flexible connecting'means connecting said tube and said vessel whereby said tube may be tilted without moving said vessel, said flexible connecting means embodying a bellows, the only communication between said burner and said tube being at the bottom of said burner on the high side of said burner when said burner is in its elevated position and being located symmetrically with said plane.

5. In combination, a relatively stationary supply vessel for liquid fuel, means for maintaining a predetermined liquid level in said vessel, a.

burner and tube means connecting said burner with said vessel, means for tilting said tube means and said burner between positions wherein fuel will flow from said vessel toward the bottom of said burner and wherein fuel will flow from the,

raising and lowering said tube progressively about an axis with a movement in a vertical plane, a liquid fuel supply member connected to deliver fuel to and receive fuel from one end of said tube, said liquid fuel supply member being fixed in location relative to said axis, a burner communicating with the other end of said tube and tiltable as a unit with said tube, and means for selectably changing the elevation of said burner with respect to said fuel supply member whereby fuel may flow from said burner toward said supply member or may flow from said supply member toward said burner through said tube in response to the position of said burner, flexible connecting means for delivering fuel from said fuel supply member to said tube, said axis extending through said flexible connecting means, the only communication between said burner and said tube being at the bottom of said burner on the high side of said burner when said burner is in its elevated position and being located symmetrically with said plane.

7. In combination, a tube, means for tiltably raising and lowering said tube progressively about an axis with a movement in a vertical plane, a liquid fuel supply member connected to deliver fuel to and receive fuel from one end of said tube, said liquid fuel supply member being fixed in location relative to said axis, a burner communicating with the other end of said tube and tiltable as a unit with said tube, and means for selectably changing the elevation of said burner with respect to said fuel supply member whereby fuel may flow from said burner toward said supply member or may flow from said supply member toward said burner through said tube in response to the position of said burner, flexible connecting means for delivering fuel from said fuel supply member to said tube, said axis extending through said flexible connecting means, the only communication between said burner and said tube being at the bottom of said burner on the high side of said burner when said burner is in its elevated position and being located symmetrically with said plane, and means for re leasably holding said elevation changing means in a plurality of positions intermediate of the range of positions of said burner.

' AVERD NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 662,943 Jeavons Dec. 4, 1900 645,154 Wilder Mar. 13, 1900 776,320 Harrison Nov. 29, 1904 1,152,579 Warren Sept. 7, 1915 1,609,214 Snow Nov. 30, 1926 1,470,738 Hoffman Oct. 16, 1923 1,488,854 White Apr. 1, 1924 1,531,236 Landgraf Mar. 25, 1925 

